Chapter 18 Evacuate Wayaobao

At the beginning of May 1936, Chiang Kai-shek strictly ordered the Kuomintang Central Army, Northeast Army, Seventeenth Route Army, and Ningxia Ma Hongbin, Ma Hongkui and other departments to launch a new "invasion and suppression" against the Shaanxi-Gansu base areas.The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China took into account the political situation in the country and the military situation in the Northwest, combined with the actual situation faced by the Shaanxi-Gansu Soviet Area, avoided a decisive battle with a powerful enemy militarily, and sought out the Northeast Army and other friendly forces that could be united, so as to continue to consolidate and expand the Shenyang-Gansu-Ningxia Anti-Japanese War base.Decision: The Red First Army, the Fifteenth Corps, the Eighty-first Division, and the Cavalry Regiment will form the Western Field Army with a total of more than 13,000 people. The Red First Army will be the left army, and the Red Fifteenth Army will be the right army. Peng Dehuai served as commander and political commissar, and carried out the Western Expedition to attack the "two horses" warlords who insisted on anti-communism, opened up new base areas, and coordinated the Red Second, Sixth Army and Red Fourth Front Army to go north.

At the same time, the Politburo meeting of the CPC Central Committee decided to abolish the Shaanxi-Gansu Provincial Party Committee, establish the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government in Liu Quzi, Wuqi Town, Baoan County, with Li Fuchun as the secretary and Ma Xiwu as the chairman of the government; it also decided to establish a new Chi'an County ( Today's Wuqi County), some districts and townships of Zhidan County were placed under the jurisdiction of Xinchi'an County. At the end of May, under the pressure of Chiang Kai-shek, the Northeast Army began to advance towards Wayaobao.The Northeast Army, which had already conducted secret negotiations with the Red Army, promptly notified the Central Red Army secretly that they would attack Wayaobao under the order of Chairman Jiang.In order to avoid civil war, it is a matter of time to evacuate Wayaobao.

On June 14, 1936, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting of the Standing Committee and decided that the central government would withdraw from Wayaobao and move westward.Yang Shangkun was sent to lead the advance team into Zhidan to arrange the capital.After that, the central authorities were notified to withdraw one after another after June 15, and gave Wayaobao to the Northeast Army. After breakfast on June 21, Zhou Enlai and the comrades in the agency made preparations for evacuation.Suddenly, fierce gunshots rang out outside Wayaobao City. It turned out to be a cavalry battalion of the 86th Division of Gao Shuangcheng of the Kuomintang stationed in northern Shaanxi. Hearing that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was about to withdraw from Wayaobao and the garrison was on the front line, it colluded with some landlords and armed nearly a thousand people to take advantage of the false attack to occupy Wayao first. fort.At that time, the fighting strength of the Red Army in Wayaobao was only the guard communication company and the guard team, with a total of less than 100 people.

The students of the Red Army University who were gathering on the playground heard a burst of gunshots, and bullets whized above their heads.The principals Lin Biao and Luo Ruiqing felt that things were not good, so they led the guards to observe and block the sudden approaching enemies.The enemy came prepared, aggressively, rushed and attacked, and soon broke through the line of defense composed of guards, and took control of the commanding height of Wayaobao - Miliang Mountain. At this time, the guard He Qinghua felt that the gunshots were not right, and they were getting closer, mixed with the explosion of grenades, which immediately woke Mao Zedong up.While talking, the earthen walls and jujube trees in the yard were crackled by bullets.He Qinghua was about to go out of the yard to inquire about the situation, when Zhou Enlai arrived, and said to Mao Zedong in a hurry: "Let's go, go now, the enemy is coming for a surprise attack!"I'm going to the front now to have a look and arrange for blocking.Zhou Enlai turned around and went out of the courtyard, and met Zhang Yunyi head-on. Zhang Yunyi panted and said: "The fighting is fierce ahead, the enemy has already entered the streets and alleys. Vice Chairman Zhou and the heads of the Central Committee are asked to go first. He and the soldiers are in the rear."Zhou Enlai returned to the small courtyard where Mao Zedong lived, and urged Mao Zedong to withdraw quickly with a very serious expression.

Zhou Enlai and Zhang Yunyi left the yard, turned left, and not far away was a crossroads, where some Red Army soldiers were hidden in layers in walls, door openings, etc.Zhou Enlai asked the soldiers to stand guard at the front and safely control the north-south passage. After the chief retreated from the south gate, he divided half of the troops and quickly moved to the rear wing... At this time, Zhang Wentian, Mao Zedong and other leaders of the central government came from their residences to the intersection.In addition to the sound of gunshots and grenade explosions, the sound of fighting each other can be vaguely heard.Zhou Enlai stood on the side of the crossroads and commanded a dozen Red Army soldiers to carry out vigilant movements along both sides of the street.When Zhang Wentian, Mao Zedong and others arrived at the crossroads, a group of enemy troops coming in from the west gate broke through the line of defense, and suddenly appeared on the other side of the crossroads, shooting while charging, and the bullets screamed and flew over the heads of the central leaders.

The situation is not good!The platoon leader Chen Youcai shouted desperately, and led a group of soldiers to countercharge, driving out the ignorant enemy. Zhang Wentian, Mao Zedong and the others moved south along the path in the ravine, and while walking, they suddenly saw a dozen enemy soldiers on the hillock, with long spears on their backs, walking down the mountain.The accompanying guards and confidential translators suddenly became nervous, immediately loaded their bullets, drew their swords, and prepared to fight the enemy.Zhou Enlai chased up from behind and told everyone not to be nervous, move forward quickly, and get rid of them quickly!Zhou Enlai also ordered Chen Youcai to lead a squad to quietly occupy the high slope on the right side of the ravine and keep a secret guard.Under the cover of thorns, weeds, and wormwood on the roadside, Zhang Wentian, Mao Zedong, and Zhou Enlai and their group advanced silently and quickly along the path at the bottom of the ditch, and quickly escaped from danger.

Zhang Wentian's wife Liu Ying later recalled: "It was very dangerous at that time, and it was extremely serious. On that day, Mr. Dong, Luo Mai, Sister Cai and I left first. There was already a fight. The enemy entered the city. Chairman Mao , Vice Chairman Zhou, and Zhang Wentian were the last to leave. According to Luo Ruiqing, Lin Biao couldn't even find his horse..."